Georgia’s Rayshaun Hammonds Looks To Bring High Motor To An NBA Team

Rayshaun Hammonds spent the last three seasons playing for the University of Georgia just forty minutes away from the Atlanta suburb where he grew up. In Athens, he was a high energy player standing at 6’9″ 235 lbs. Being coached by Tom Crean, a passionate coach, only made Hammonds a better player and person.

“It was cool having that type of coach around,” Hammonds told me. “Building your confidence, things like that.”

Even though UGA is more known for its legendary football program, the basketball program is building its name. Crean is an elite head coach who has made the Final Four; Hammonds will be on an NBA team tomorrow night, and their shooting guard Anthony Edwards is a likely top-three pick.

“They’re building something real special there,” Hammonds said. “In a couple of years, the next year or the year after it’s going to be a household name going on at UGA. Me, just being apart of that building it up is very special to me.”

As of right now, he is back in Gwinnett County at home, but the 22-year-old has spent time in Dallas and Arizona training for the NBA Draft. In Dallas, he spent time in pickup games with current NBA players such as Julius Randle. He averaged 12.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game this past season. At the next level, he knows he has a lot to do for his game to transition from college to the NBA.

“Being versatile,” he said. “Being able to do everything and just getting better at doing it. Getting my teammates involved, getting better at doing that, making shots being more consistent and just playing up-tempo the whole time. I can bring a lot to an NBA team.”

His defense is also something that he thinks can be utilized to his advantage. At his size, he can also guard smaller players and more prominent players. Being able to defend positions 1-5 is a vital trait in sticking on an NBA floor. When the Bulldogs would practice, he says that coach Crean made sure he guarded their guards.

On top of having such a good coach around, his former teammate Nicolas Claxton he considers to be his brother, and Claxton spent this past season with the Brooklyn Nets. Learning from his friend’s experience will only help him as he enters his new journey.

“We talk almost every day,” Hammonds said.

As for what will occur tomorrow night, Hammonds might be a 2nd round pick or go undrafted and sign with a team after the draft. However, one thing is exact; there is a lot of interest in his services as he has interviewed with every single NBA team.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’m just trying to soak it all in right now.”

When the draft is going on tomorrow night, he will be watching with his family and friends in Gwinnett. The power forward will be watching as his dreams will turn into a reality, and the Georgia native will find out where his new home will be.